MIWA reminds aftermarket of importance of “upskilling”

According
to MIWA, with the current curtailed consumer spending, South African
motorists are increasingly holding onto their private vehicles for
longer periods – increasing demand for independent workshops. This
is especially true for motorists whose existing dealer maintenance
and repair plans have expired.

Pieter
Niemand, Director of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA),
comments: "While stronger demand bodes well for the independent
auto repair shops that have survived some of the toughest years in
the industry, the necessity to up skill staff is more important now
than ever." However, workshop owners are faced with a huge
skills shortage. “It’s a challenge for workshop owner to find
skilled staff and head hunting has become the norm. Workshop owners
need to train their current staff and identify where the skill gaps
lie.”

As
we are all well aware, vehicles have become increasingly more complex
over the years, with the addition of increasingly advanced electronic
components. Mechanics are now expected to be service engineers with
the ability to operate at complex, technical levels. “We
believe
auto workshop owners will need to shift their focus from merely
retaining customers to offering a multi-skilled expert that can
advise on and service vehicles across the board,” says Niemand.

In
order to remain competitive against the OEM dealers, aftermarket auto
shops have to depend on technical manuals, manufacturers service
information, even the internet for updated technical specs and fault
identification because of the variety of models they have to service.
“Diagnostic equipment assists to a certain extent but it can only
do so much. The Right to Repair campaign is working towards bringing
about a change in the industry where information will be made
accessible to independent workshops but until then workshops have to
work with what is available. It does, however, mean that mechanics
need to be continuously upskilling to meet the demand,” he says.

For
this reason, identifying training opportunities for the sector is a
priority for MIWA. “Several years ago we approached American
training company, Delmar, to host its automotive technician training
programme in South Africa. This resulted in a Master Technician
course which has been accessible to workshops and has been well
received.”

Niemand
adds that MIWA has also partnered with the AA Technical College where
those who sign up receive a three-week practical followed by a
two-day trade test aimed at automotive electricians, diesel mechanics
and motor mechanics. “The trade test is designed to allow
experienced workshop staff to attain a qualification even though they
did not attend formal training,” he says. “The Minister of Higher
Education and Training has announced changes to the ARPL (Artisan
Recognition of Prior Learning) process, the first of which are for
Motor and Diesel Mechanics. These changes will come into effect on 19
October so the AA is offering MIWA members a 50% discount on standard
rates for ARPL candidates before this date.”

The
key is encouraging a steady stream of new talent into the industry,
believes Niemand. “One of the industry’s challenges in attracting
newcomers. Unfortunately the misperception still exists that workshop
mechanics are merely grease-monkeys who spend their days covered in
oil, taking engines apart. The reality is that the only people
as skilled as fully-qualified automotive technicians are aircraft
technicians. Automotive technology has developed so far that
mechanics is only one of four skills technicians must learn.
The others are electrical, electronics and advanced computer skills,”
he says.

As
the biggest association in the Retail Motor Industry (RMI), MIWA has
taken on the responsibility of encouraging artisan training by
linking with one of the largest providers, Bidvest McCarthy. “Bidvest
McCarthy continues to set training benchmarks and its Bidvest
Automotive Artisan Academy offers full trades in Motor Mechanic,
Diesel Mechanic and Automotive Electrician apprenticeship programmes.
It has three merSETA and NAMB Accredited Training and Trade Test
Centres one in Midrand, Gauteng, one in Pinetown, Kwazulu-Natal, and
one in Blackheath, Cape Town.”

“We
have a major unemployment problem in South Africa and there is much
opportunity in the aftermarket motor industry. The time has come to
put aside misperception and encourage young people to consider
training in this industry. It’s also the time to invest in
upskilling existing staff so we can provide consumers with the best
service for the least amount of money, and a turnaround time that
provides the least inconvenience. With today’s vehicles demanding
more training and greater specialisation, mechanics are going to have
to continuously adapt to changing technologies. Training is available
and should be considered to ensure the industry remains relevant,”
concludes Niemand.